Medieval Drama & Mystery Cycle Plays

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Transcript of Medieval Drama & Mystery Cycle Plays

Medieval Drama & Mystery Cycle PlaysBegins with the fall of Rome in 476Lasts until the 1500sMedieval Period3 M'sConventionsc.610 Islam is founded (time of Muhammad)c. 636 Anglo-Saxons are introduced to Christianityc. 695 Jews persecuted in Spainc. 710 Council of Nicaea rejects iconoclasmc. 792 Viking Era beginsc. 1096 Crusades beginA Few Religious HappeningsMedieval DramaChurch banned drama: godless activityRebirth in the monasteriesNormal worked ceased when plays were performedEntire town responsible for for presentation of playsMiracle PlaysMystery CycleMorality PlaysPlays about the lives of SaintsBanned in 1500s: King Henry VIIIPlays with the purpose of teaching the audience about Catholic morals and valuesAbout people facing worldly temptations and the salvation of manSerious yet entertainingNever part of play cyclesof Medieval Mystery CyclePlays about the major events in the bible10th Century, Catholic Church initiated mystery cycles to make Christian teachings more accessible to an illiterate populationAssociated with the late spring festivals of Corpus ChristiDramatizing Christian history: Biblical events, creation of the world, crucifixion of Jesus, last judgmentEpisodes ranged from 40 to 100European Medieval SocietyOrganized largely around the Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church held most of the political and social powerThe Church spoke Latin but the people spoke EnglishThe Church found it difficult to communicate with the peopleThe Church started putting on biblical plays to communicate with peopleProduction DevelopmentGuildsWorkers unions called guildsHigher social status could be achieved through membershipDifferent guilds responsible for various productions, similar to cooperate sponsorshipSometimes the production was related to the guild's workBakers- The Last SupperBoat Builders- Noah's ArkPageant WagonCarts/wagons drawn by horses like a traveling stageThis staging is most closely related with the English cycle plays, but it was also common in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. ViewingCarts were pulled through town, moved from one audience to the nextEach play in the cycle was mounted on an individual pageant wagonThe plays were performed at different locations in the vicinityEach play performed at 12 sites throughout townFestive, holiday atmospherePerformancePurposeAllow audience to identify with Christ's suffering, feel the power of miracles, and fear devils.Central subject- salvationReenforce people's faith and social hierarchy

Special Effectsexuberant performancesholiday atmosphereMusic, food, large crowdsStyle Lots of spectacle: fire, water, flying angels, flowing water, etc.Hell Mouth!DeclineProtestant Reformation and King Henry VIII broke with the pope. Church of England developed and Catholicism no longer served in the interest of the state. The government did not want Catholicism to have power. During Elizabeth I's rule, English government set to eliminate mystery cycles.Changes in England's ReligionHowScripts and manuscripts of the splays were destroyed. Regulations against religious plays were enforced. Catholic plays were not given licenses.